Rail-joint



(N o Model.) GREENE RAIL JOINT. No. 429,758. Patented June 10, 1890.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH D. GREENE, OF MARSHALL, MISSOURI.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,758, dated June 10, 1890.

Application filed February 13, 1889. Renewed November 13, 1889. Serial No. 330,127. (No model.)

' sists, among other improvements, in the novel construction wherebyone of the sections is held by means of a lug between the jaws midway of section as against longitudinal movement along the rail, while the other section is being moved longitudinally to adjust the two sections tightly against the rail. I also form one of the longitudinal bearing-surfaces between the two sections practically oval, so that the sections may be adapted to abutting rails of different widths, all of which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved rail-joint. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the sections slightly separated. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of one of the sections. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the inner side of the section having the holding-lug; and Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of a part of the joint, showing the lug and the recesses in the end of the rail to receive said lug.

The sections A B are formed with baseplates at I), having jaws A B at the outer ends of same, such jaws being adapted to fit upon the opposite edges of the base of the rail and grip the same when the sections are drawn tightly together upon the rail. The jacket formed by the sectionsA B may be used with or without the fish-plates C; but it is preferred to use them in connection with said fish-plates and to extend one of the jaws up so it will fit at its upper edge close under the nuts D and lock same from turning, as will be understood from Fig. 1.

I make the base-plates of sections A B the one with a groove cl and the other with a rib D fitted to such groove, the said rib and groove being extended diagonally, so that as the sections are moved longitudinally together their jaws will adjust toward each other and so grip the rail when the sections are adjusted fully together. The described construction also tends to prevent creeping of either of the rails and anchors them firmly in position.

To hold one section A while the section B is being driven into contact, I provide such section centrally between its ends with a lug or projection E, arranged within the jaw of said section and fitting in a recess F, formed, preferably, by notching the meeting ends of the rails F at f f, as shown. This construction is simple, easily effected in the manufacture of the parts, and is certain and efficient in operation.

The bearing-surface b of section B is practically oval, so that when the sections A B are fitted on the abutting ends of rails the bases of which are of slightly different widths the sections A B may adjust to clamp the ends of both of such rails by the tilting or rocking of the section B on its surface I) to properly conform to the rails.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a rail-joint, a jacket formed of two sections having jaws or portions adapted to engage the opposite edges of the rail-base, one section having a groove and the other a rib to fit therein, and one of such sections having a practically oval bearing-surface, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination of the rails provided with recesses f f, the jacketsection A, having a jaw adapted to engage the edge of the rail and provided in said jaw with a lug or projection fitted to enter the recess f, and the section B, such sections A B being provided the one with a groove and the other with a rib fitted thereto, such groove and rib being diagonal, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, in a rail-joint, of the rails, the fish-plates lapping the joints of said tialiy as described, and for the purposes specimils and secured by the bolts and nuts, and fied.

the jnekebseetione hz ving, respectively, di- JOSEPH GREENE agonal grooves and ribs fitted to each other and provided at their outer edges with jaws, \Vitnesses:

one of which is constructed and arranged to JACOB M. DAVIDSON,

fit snugly below the fastening-nuts, substan- \VILBERT E. GOULD. 

